Article by George Norman

On 05 May 2009

We already know that Apple’s App Store has a rather complicated app approval process that is not always fair (take the Nine Inch Nails iPhone app for example), but how are things over in the Microsoft camp, what kind of apps will and what kind of apps will not be allowed into Windows Marketplace? Now that Windows Marketplace for Mobile has been opened to software developers, Microsoft came out to announce the rules it will abide to when approving apps for the store.

A short clarification first: if you would like to submit your app to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, you can do so as long as you abide to the following requirements: you have a Windows Live ID, you have a taxpayer ID, you have $99 on your credit card. If you have all that, then you can move on to the next step: set up a profile and sign an application provider agreement. The next step is to have Microsoft’s staff go over the app and ensure it abides to the company’s submission guidelines; the app will then be approved entry to the Windows Markeptlace for Mobile, or it will be banned.


The following apps will be banned from the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, as presented in this official document (PDF warning):
“1. Applications that are or distribute alternate marketplaces for content types (applications,
games, themes etc.) that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows® Marketplace for
Mobile.
2. Applications that link to, incent users to download, or otherwise promote alternate
marketplaces for content types that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows
Marketplace for Mobile.
3. Applications that promote or link users to a website, or contain functionality within the
application itself, which encourages or requires the user to purchase or pay to upgrade the
application outside of Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.
4. Applications that enable VoIP (Voice over IP) services over a mobile operator network.
5. Applications that sell, link to, or otherwise promote mobile voice plans.
6. Applications that display advertising that does not meet the Microsoft Advertising Creative
Acceptance Policy Guide http://advertising.microsoft.com/creative-specs.
7. Applications that replace, remove or modify the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface.
8. Applications that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device.
9. Applications with an OTA (over the air) download >10 MB.
10. Applications that run code outside Microsoft runtimes (native, managed, and widgets)
11. Applications that publish a user’s location information to any other person without first having
received the user’s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a
means of opting out of having their location information published.
12. Applications that publish a user’s data from their mobile device to any other person without first
having received the user’s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user
a means of opting out of having their data published. A “user’s data” includes, without limit,
contacts, photos, SMS or other text communication, browsing history, location information, and
other data either stored on the mobile device or stored in the “cloud” but accessible from the
mobile device.”

In related Windows Mobile news, we have the following for you:
Tellme Voice App for Windows Mobile 6.5
Microsoft to Reportedly Bring Windows Mobile Over the Air Upgrades
Rumor Mill: Microsoft Working on Halo for Windows Mobile



Tags: Microsoft, Windows Mobile, Windows Marketplace for Mobile

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